Water Managementhttp://cbn.co.za
Sun, 18 Feb 2018 09:00:05 +0200Joomla! - Open Source Content Managementen-gbStructa Water Storage Solutions to support municipalities and farmers especially during the droughthttp://cbn.co.za/manufacturing/water-management/structa-water-storage-solutions-to-support-municipalities-and-farmers-especially-during-the-drought
http://cbn.co.za/manufacturing/water-management/structa-water-storage-solutions-to-support-municipalities-and-farmers-especially-during-the-drought

As a member of the Structa Group of Companies, Structa Technology proudly services the municipalities and agriculture industries in the provision of much needed water storage solutions to local communities and the farmers especially during the drought currently experienced.

Over the years, the 40-year proprietary product, Prestank, has proven to be a hygienically safe, cost-effective, and reliable water-storage solution for municipalities, farmers, communities, commercial sectors, private sectors, mines and even for personalised storage. Especially now, during the drought experienced in the Western Cape, the two Structa water-storage products, namely the Roddy Tank, for lower water volumes, and The Prestank, for water volumes above 10,000 litres, can be of valuable aid to municipalities and farmers. These two products are known for being durable and cost effective.

Prestank can be used for various water storage applications, including temporary or permanent installations at municipal water infrastructure, farms ,building sites, hospitals, water utilities, rural communities and mines. The Roddy Tank is ideally suited for smaller villages, schools and clinics in rural areas, and therefore suitable for small holder farmers as well. The Roddy Tank is a sectional, round, galvanised water storage tank that offers 3,900 litres, 7,200 litres and 10,000 litrescapacities.

Structa’s customisable, high-quality pressed-steel sectional tanks are hot-dip galvanised for corrosion control in accordance with SANS 121 (or ISO 1461) galvanising standards. The thickness of the hot-dip galvanised coat is applied within a range of 80μm to 100μm – more than five times that of zinc on pre-galvanised corrugated steel cylindrical tanks. This ensures an extended maintenance-free life when water with aggressively corrosive properties needs to be stored.

Structa’s Prestank and Roddy Tanks are supplied nationally and internationally. Its track record speaks for itself.

The Zincalume® tanks they provide are engineered to the highest specifications with a lifespan of 60 + years and ranging in capacity from 12 000 litres to 3,3 megalitres.

With the use of customised PVC tank liners, manufactured on-site in its SBS® Liner Facility, these tanks provide safe drinking water free of any possible contaminants, making them a ideal companion for desalination plants and boreholes. Innovation is integral to engineering and production at SBS Tanks®, and their fully internal fabrication process allows for full quality control, and a turnkey solution to water storage.

As pioneers of the modular water tank system, SBS Tanks® has eliminated the need for specialised equipment, crane lifting, and specialised contractors - eradicating drawn-out construction time and safety risks completely. Everything from logistics to installation is handled by an internal team, providing a fast solution.

Industries served include mining, municipal, fire protection, water conservation, and food & beverage industries in South Africa. A refined design of this product has exploited export potential with SBS Tanks® supplying its products to countries including USA, Mexico, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Pacific Islands amongst others.

With over 1 500 tanks designed, manufactured, and installed, and 30+ years’ experience in the industry, SBS Tanks® is highly recognised when it comes to liquid storage.

In order to remain fit for the future, water supply and distribution facilities need to set themselves special challenges and take future trends seriously. Topics such as system migration and modernisation, data capture and analysis or preventive maintenance are becoming increasingly important when it comes to ensuring a high level of plant availability and efficient operation.

“The primary goal of every company is to guarantee long-term business continuity while maintaining a high level of plant availability. It is important to implement notable trends effectively – with the help of modern automation technologies, for example. These can help to minimise life-cycle costs significantly and ensure that a plant is operated effectively”, explains Detlef Koffke, Manager Industry Sector Water, Factory Automation – European Business Group, Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.

Avoiding machine shutdowns

Shutdown periods increase total operating costs and affect quality and efficiency. For that reason, downtimes should be kept to a minimum during the migration or modernisation of existing plants. Shutdowns can be reduced by carrying out the integration of the new system in parallel, without disrupting normal operation.

Modern automation technologies, standardised software and flexible solutions – such as adapter solutions for example – can provide support in the run-up, enabling procurement costs and cabling work to be reduced. Tested and proven function blocks, standardised hardware and software solutions as well as specific libraries can also help to reduce the costs associated with project planning, engineering and commissioning.

Advanced condition monitoring

Ideally, a condition monitoring solution would be integrated in the complete system in conjunction with a form of energy monitoring. It could then help to ensure reliable system optimisation as well as minimise costs, downtimes and risks such as unscheduled shutdowns.

Preventive maintenance enables the life-cycle of components to be maximised while maintaining the same level of performance and repairs to be scheduled. A modern condition monitoring system can be integrated quite easily and flexibly adjusted in line with plant requirements. In addition, it has an intuitive operating concept and offers the option of long-term data storage.

Improving plant transparency

Transparency is playing an increasingly important role in guaranteeing system availability and efficiency. Besides the central visualisation of the whole plant, it is all about the integration of decentralised plant components in real time. Intelligent remote terminal units (RTUs for short) can be used to connect external stations to a central process control or SCADA system.

The smartRTUs from Mitsubishi Electric feed data from branched plant systems such as pipelines, pumping stations or water treatment plants into the central SCADA system in real time. In the event of communication failure, they will temporarily store all the relevant data. The comprehensive overview of the current plant status will also include acute maintenance requirements and fault or alarm messages.

Monitoring energy consumption and water pressure

Rising energy prices and the huge costs that can be incurred as a result of water losses in pipe systems are two further reasons for plant operators to decide to go digital. Tried and tested solutions can be used to optimise pumping station pressure, for example, enabling the load on the pipe network as well as water losses to be reduced.

]]>Water ManagementMon, 11 Sep 2017 22:53:46 +0200Drought crisis: Rain does not mean we can go back to normalhttp://cbn.co.za/manufacturing/water-management/drought-crisis-rain-does-not-mean-we-can-go-back-to-normal
http://cbn.co.za/manufacturing/water-management/drought-crisis-rain-does-not-mean-we-can-go-back-to-normal

The City of Cape Town warns all of its water users that failure to reduce consumption spells disaster for everyone. Water usage has shot up to 643 million litres per day. This is 143 million litres above our target of 500 million litres of collective water use per day.

Our latest consumption levels are extremely worrying as many people believe that they can go back to normal behaviour due to recent rains. These recent rains are not nearly enough as we are still in a drought crisis. The drought conditions are the New Normal for Cape Town as a water-scarce region. To adapt to the New Normal, we have to change our behaviour drastically to save water while we still have water to be saved.

Too many people are not listening to the City’s warnings and appeals to reduce their consumption. The rainfall has made a very small impact on our dam levels. The fact that we are still 143 million litres over our 500 million litre target per day means that those who are not reducing consumption are playing with everyone’s future in Cape Town.

The lower than average rainfall, coupled with unacceptably high consumption, will hurt us all as there are still far too many stubborn people who are not doing enough to save water so that we can build up of reserves for a terribly harsh 2017/18 summer.

Dam storage levels are at 27,4%, but useable water is only at about 17,4% which is very low for this time of the year. This time last year dam storage levels were at 47,6%, with useable water at this time of year standing at 37,6%.

We are in a dire situation and Level 4b water restrictions require all water users to use less than 87 litres of water per person per day in total, irrespective of whether they are at home, work or elsewhere.

‘Water users who are not adhering to the restrictions are playing with our collective future. We must save water while we still have it. We simply must do more to use water more sparingly. We are reminding those households who fail to reduce consumption that the start of the process that could restrict supply is firmly under way,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

Residents can contact the City via email to water@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions of the water restrictions (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts), or they can send an SMS to 31373.

Water supplied by the City remains safe to drink and is tested in accordance with the most rigorous safety standards.

Rain Queen Tanks offers various water storage solutions from a few thousand litres to 200 000 litres. Using galvanized corrugated steel it manufacturers tanks that are strong, good looking and customizable to clients water storage requirements.

Rain water tanks for home and business

With diameters from 550mm to 2 200mm and heights up to 2,9m, Rain Queen’s popular sizes are 2 400 litres and 5 000 litres and tanks come standard with 40mm outlet and overflow and a 400mm manhole. Tanks come in two configurations - round or oval. The oval tank known as the Streamline tank is pleasing to the eye and fits flat against a wall, so is useful in alleyways alongside houses where space is limited.

Large tanks with PVC liners

Comprising a corrugated steel outer ring that is made of curved panels bolted together and a PVC liner that is attached to the corrugated ring, these tanks accommodate volumes up to 200 000 litres. Standard heights are 1,5m and 2,2m roof covers can be of shade cloth or corrugated steel. These tanks are an economical storage solution for large volumes and are suitable for factories or warehouses and also a tried and tested solution in agricultural applications for small holdings, nurseries and parks golf courses.

Corrugated steel sleeves

Rain Queen also manufacture corrugated steel sleeves to cover plastic tanks where a large tube is placed around the plastic tank. This gives the traditional corrugated tank look and will also shield the plastic tank from the sun, which will increase the life span of the plastic tank.

Fire tanks

Corrugated steel tanks are available that are fire resistant and useful in fynbos and forest applications where fire damage to tanks is a threat.

The City of Cape Town is preparing for the imminent implementation of further intensified waterrestrictions. The envisaged Level 4b restrictions would adjust the water usage target downwards to 500 million litres of collective water use per day. This comes as dam levels remain critically low, rainfall uncertainty great, and consumption levels still too high considering the need to start building reserves for the expected tough summer ahead.

Dam storage levels are at 24,5% today, 26 June 2017. With the last 10% of a dam’s water mostly not being useable, dam levels are effectively at 14,5%. Consumption is 630 million litres per day. This is 30 million litres above the current usage target of 600 million litres per day.

The City requests consumers to start moving towards the target of 500 million litres, irrespective of whether Level 4b restrictions have been formally implemented or not, by ensuring that all water users use less than 100 litres of water per person per day in total, whether at home, work or elsewhere. This would be in preparation for the proposed intensified restrictions. The City will also continue to target excessive users.

‘It is incredibly important that we focus on building our reserves at the moment. The danger does exist that we will start exceeding our water usage target due to the cooler conditions and the rainfall that is being experienced at times.

‘Our dam levels remain critically lower than usual during the start of the winter. As we do not know how rainfall will pan out, we need to make sure that we save water while we have it. I know that many of us are doing everything in our power to use less water and I know it is difficult to keep on saving water, especially when the rain falls and the temperature drops, but we cannot afford to let our guard down.

‘We must continue to use less than 100 litres of water per person per day in total, whether we are at home, work, school or elsewhere. It may take a few seasons of normal rainfall for the dams to recover and we must bear in mind that we are expecting an even tougher summer in 2018,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg

The City’s Water Resilience Task Team has been set up to boost the City’s response to drought, to ensure that acute water shortages are avoided, and to transform Cape Town’s water landscape into one that ultimately relies less on surface water.

The City continues with all of its planned and proactive interventions, such as pressure reduction programmes and emergency work, as well as taking tough action on those who contravene the existing Level 4 restrictions.

Residents can contact the City via email to water@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions of the water restrictions (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts), or they can send an SMS to 31373.

For further information on how to adhere to the less than 100-litre usage requirement, residents should please visit the water restrictions page on the City’s website: www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater

The City of Cape Town has reminded residents to continue using water sparingly and only for permitted essential use, irrespective of the rainfall that is currently being experienced in the province.

According to the City, all water users must continue to reduce their water usage to less than 100 litres per person per day.

The City says the much-anticipated cold front which has made landfall is not a quick ticket out of the drought situation. It will take at least three consecutive winters of above-average rainfall to make a real difference.

The City urges consumers, where possible, to use suitable containers to capture rainwater, which is perfect for flushing toilets, as an example. Flushing an average toilet could save nine litres per flush depending on the type of toilet.

“It must be noted that, due to climatic unpredictability, no one is able to definitely predict when our next big rainfall will occur.

“We must therefore continue to save water now and we cannot afford to have our water use influenced by the weather using less than 100 litres per person per day whether at home, work, school or elsewhere remains the requirement,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

The City has made provision to capture some of the excessive inflows at wastewater treatment works by diverting it to maturation or retention ponds where available.

There are critical points in the sewer reticulation system where storm water is diverted to the sewer system.

This water is treated to make more treated effluent available. Investigation is under way to see how to capture urban storm water at a greater scale and then store it for later treatment and use.

In addition, the City assures all residents that drinking water remains safe to drink as rigorous and regular tests are conducted to maintain the high level of water quality.

The City is running an exhibition at Canal Walk to showcase water-saving technologies from 9 – 11 June 2017.

All residents who want to explore ways in which they can conserve water are encouraged to attend.

Residents can contact the City via email to water@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions of water restrictions (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts), or they can send an SMS to 31373.

For further information on how to adhere to the less than 100 litre usage requirement, residents are advised to visit the water restrictions page on the City’s website: www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater.

As the City of Cape Town brought further water restrictions into effect on Wednesday (1 June), a city councillor has revealed that her office has so far received 17 enquiries and proposals from entrepreneurs looking to offer water-saving solutions to the city.

In an emailed response on Friday to an enquiry from Ventureburn, Councillor Xanthea Limberg, mayoral committee member for informal settlements, waste and water services and energy, said however that the city is not at liberty to share their personal information.

“We are currently looking into all of these proposals,” she added.

Ventureburn understands however that one of the enquiries is from 25-year-old Grant Vanderwagen who has developed an idea to harvest water from fog. He last week told Ventureburn that he was directed by the city to complete a form and email this to the city.

At least one business incubator — Stellenbosch University’s LaunchLab — is supporting entrepreneurs developing water-saving ideas. This follows a pitching challenge last month in which winning ideas from four startups were chosen to get free support from the incubator.

Limberg said the city doesn’t currently provide any funding to any incubator to develop a startup’s water-saving solution further into a working prototype.

With Cape Town praying that rain will come before the city’s dams run dry, Mike Mayne believes he has a home-grown solution to the most immediate, easiest and least expensive way to save water. “The average urinal flush uses 2 litres of potable water each time it is used,” explains the founder of Cape Town-based Sannitree, a major manufacturer of biodegradable bio-enzyme products which it markets in South Africa and exports to 30 countries

“Greater Cape Town has a population of around 5 million, about half of whom, or 2,5 million, are males. Let’s be conservative and say that 1,5 million of them use urinals, with the rest using other types of toilets. The 1.5 million use urinals three times a day, with 6 litres being flushed away daily by each user. That’s 6 million litres of water a day literally flushed down the drain every single day. And remember, this is potable water.”

Mayne came across a potential solution to this wastage when he used a waterless urinal in the US some 17 years ago. He started importing the valve that operated the waterless urinal but found it to be inefficient. An alternative Swiss product became too expensive, so he worked with a Cape Town plastics engineer to design the Sannitree Waterless Urinal Valve.

Manufactured in Cape Town, the patented invention replaces the existing outlet trap in the base of the urinal bowl. The Sannitree valve contains a simple silicone flap which opens when urine passes through it, allowing the fluid to flow into the outlet pipes. When the urinal stream has stopped, the flap springs closed, sealing the valve and preventing odours from escaping into the toilet cubicle and obviating the use of chemical odour suppressants and cleansers.

“Urinals have been flushed for over 80 years solely to carry urine to waste pipes,” says Mayne. “Urine consists of 96% water, 2.44% urea, 1% salt and 0.6% of various acids. We simply don’t need water to transport water.”

The Sannitree Waterless Urinal Valve costs less than R200. “A large building with a number of urinals could be retrofitted in a day or two,” says Mayne. “The expense could be offset in a month or so by water savings.” Valves need to be replaced every six to 12 months, and in some cases only the silicone flap needs to be replaced.

The water-free toilet environment is also hostile to bacteria and viruses, which need water to exist, adds Mayne. “Particles of urine left on the urinal bowl surface deposit 1% salt and small amounts of yellow dye. This does not smell. The typical pungent smell of stale urine is caused by ammonia evolving from decomposition of urea when mixed with water.”

Sannitree has already sold over 5 000 waterless valves in Cape Town and is exporting the product. It has also won international recognition, with power generation multinational Cummins placing the Sannitree Waterless Urinal Valve among the top 10 finalists in its annual energy saving competition. This recognises another benefit from the product: its ability to reduce the amount of electricity used to pump water and maintain water pressure in municipal supply systems.

As the end of summer finds Cape Town’s water supply in a precarious state, there are options for making relatively quick and expanded use of local groundwater resources – while acknowledging that groundwater is not the panacea for the city’s water woes.

According to leading engineers and scientists at SRK Consulting’s Cape Town office, the aquifers in the greater Cape Town area could offer some relief if current conditions endure, by taking pressure off the demand for potable water – excluding the conventional exploitation of the Table Mountain Group Aquifer.

“Groundwater sources such as the Cape Flats Aquifer and the Newlands Aquifer could be accessed relatively quickly, and people are regularly filling up containers from one of the springs associated with the latter aquifer,” said SRK corporate consultant Peter Rosewarne. “It would also be useful to conduct an audit of groundwater use in the greater Cape Town area – and to see how much more capacity could be legally and sustainably developed by individual landowners.”

Rosewarne cautions that even if fully developed, groundwater resources could only supply a relatively small percentage of the city’s water needs. However, there is a great deal of scope for using non-potable groundwater for industrial purposes and domestic irrigation.

SRK associate partner and principal hydrogeologist Desmond Visser proposed the installation of strategically placed boreholes or well-fields in neighbourhoods where the groundwater resource potential is good, to supply irrigation water to homeowners, parks, public buildings and sports fields.

“There are many areas in the city, probably at least 70% of the Cape Town area, where there is sufficient groundwater for this to be feasible,” said Visser. “Such a system would reduce the demand on the potable water supply by a considerable margin during the summer months. In the same way, many schools could have boreholes to supply irrigation water for sports fields and gardens.”

Elements of these ideas have in fact already been implemented; SRK’s Cape Town office are part of the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works programme to find and develop groundwater sources for new and upgraded schools. Since 2011, over 50 schools have been provided with boreholes as part of this programme, saving at least 500 000 m3/a of water (equivalent to 200 Olympic size swimming pools) that would have had to come from treated municipal supplies. SRK believes that this irrigation programme should be expanded to include nearly all schools, public parks and many buildings in the Western Cape.

These ‘neighbourhood boreholes’ could even make a vital contribution to community safety in the light of ongoing shack fires in informal settlements.

“An idea that has been mooted by SRK is the use of such strategically sited boreholes to help fight shack fires,” said Rosewarne. “These boreholes – equipped with vertical turbine pumps – could supply water more quickly than conventional fire tenders.”

A further use of boreholes extracting groundwater could be to lower the water table in low-lying, flood-prone areas – on the Cape Flats particularly; this could reduce the flood risk as aquifers would be better able to absorb the excess run‑off water, he said. Much of this flooding is due to rising water tables, rather than rivers bursting their banks.

Other avenues involving groundwater that are worth more investigation include: the labyrinth of tunnels and springs beneath the City of Cape Town; tunnelling into the Table Mountain Group Aquifer; and collaboration with local sand mines and quarries which dewater their operations continuously.